Improvement in steel traps



@nimh "trg-.tufts geniet-@ffies l o'. P.v Goss ANDADRIAN Rius ORWATEYRBURY, CONNECTICUT. .lileztera Patent No. 78,526, dated Janary 21, 1868,.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEEL TRAPS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY' CONCERN:4

Be it known that we, C. P. Goss and ADRIAN RAIS, of Waterbury, New Haven county, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steel Traps; and we do hereby declare that the following is a. full, cleaigdand exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in theart'to make und `use the sume, I 'eff erence being hed to the accompanying drawings, forming a. part of this specicution, in which- I Figure 1 is u side view of the trap when it is'not set.

Figure 2, a topview in the same condition; and

Figu're 3, a. top view when the trap is set.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding pnrts.

This invention relates to an improvement inthe constructionof steel traps for catching rats and other vermin; and consists in making a combined spring and bottom. plate or support of the trap out of one piece of metal by slitting it on its two'sides longitudinally and transversely at one end of the slits, while at the other end of the slits the metal is not cut across, forming in thismanner zi, tongue, which :tots as a spring in conjunction with the original plate, as hereinafter moreparticularly described.`

For making our improved trap, we employ sheet steel, which is cut in rectangular shape to form the main piece or support-pluto A ofthe tmp. The tongue B is cut in the body of the plate A by slitting it lengthwise on the lines a a, b b, and transversely at the front end of the trap in the line a b, g. 3. The end of the tongue B thus formed is turned up at a. right angle, to form a support, c, for the connection of one end of thejaws C, the other end of which is connected with 'a similar bent support, c', on the rear end of the main piece A, which may be formed of a part thereof, or of a separate piece of metal riveted to it, for carrying'also the bait-pan D.'

i The mni'n plate A and the tongue B are sprung apart, before tempering, in such manner that the tongue shall rest level, or nearly level, ou the ground, while the front end of the main piece A rises' from the buck end of the tongue when the tra-p is not set andforms a handle projecting forward, as shown in fig. 1. VThe two parts thus spread apart, and diverging from each other at the root of the tongue B, constitute independent springs, which are brought together by the opening of the juws to set the trap, as represented in iig. 3, and act in concert for springing the jawsA together when the buit-pun is tripped, as shown in figs. 1 and 2. The-bearing of the springs is in opposite directions, and their joint action is very powerful and veffective in springing the trap.

For makinglarge animal-traps we shall employ two spring-tongues B, cut out of the same piece of sheet metal, and projecting from a common centre in opposite directions, with their ends turned up at right angles, to form two supports, e, for both sides of thejaws C.-

Great economy results from the lconstruction ofl a steel trap on the plan of employing one piece of metal only to form. a' compound spring or springs with the base-plate ofthe trap.

I-Iavingvthus described our invention, what we claim as new, und desire to secure by LettersPatent, is- Constructing n. steel tra-p with a compound `spring or springs and. base-plate of one piece of sheet steel, substantially as herein described.

C. l?. GOSS, A. RAIS.

Witnesses:

HOWARD E. MUNN, CMAS. W. G ILLETTE. 

